Page 14 - TT2018 Official Routebook

Day Four: Monday - Saint-Disdier to La Palud-sur-Verdon – 181miles

By close of play on day four we will be at the most southerly of the hotels we will be staying at this
year and to celebrate, the day will throw at us the best combination the Alps has to offer; passes,
both high and low, narrow and fast, lakes, gorges, balcony roads, scenery to die for and, with a bit of
luck, a blue-sky day and sunshine!
The day starts with a new 60mile section of road taking in the Col du Noyer (1664m), the Col de
Moissière (1571m) and a high ski resort called Chaillol 1600. Not technically a pass but a big up and
down nonetheless. Both passes are on dangerousroads.org so we will enjoy the switch backs and big
drop offs reminiscent of the Rombo. Beware the roads are substantially narrower but tarmacked all
the way, to keep the V6 gay boys from moaning about their very expensive paintwork!!

We then head east into the mountains above the northern edge of the Lake Serre-Ponçon, one of
the largest man-made lakes in Western Europe which will afford us some specular views of the 24km
lake stretching out below us. Then back west along its southern shoreline and then south-east onto
Barcelonnette on the D900. A single carriage way and well-maintained curving road offering
significant opportunities for multiple dispatching at high speed running as we head ever closer to the
big boy of the day, Col de la Cayolle standing at 2326m. This is the start of the territory of the Dark
Knight and don’t think, for one moment, is commitment to slow driving this year is going to be
adhered to on these roads. It’s a complete fallacy!! So ends part 1 of day four….
Part two brings a further plethora of stunning roads but of a completely different type. No longer
will we be scaling the Alpine passes but concentrating on navigating the delights of its gorges, honed
out of the rock by its rivers over the past millennium.

Col du Noyer Chaillol 1600 First up is the Gorges de Daluis. A
24km section of road twisting through
the signature red rocks of the Gorge,
Col de Moissière
single carriageway tunnels, stunning
balconies and, in some cases, eye
watering drop offs. I can remember
seeing Max Seamen disappear off in
New Roads his White s2 Exige at full chatter
down the wrong way on one of these
tunnels. Something, I recommend, is
not to be repeated this year!

Col de la Cayolle Finally, to finish off the day the all-
time Toad Gorge classic, the Gorges
du Verdon. I can’t think how many
times I have had the pleasure of
driving this gorge, and it always brings
Gorges de Daluis a smile to my face.

The hotel for the night is an old
favourite but has been upgraded
Gorges du Verdon since our last visit. Henry will be
pleased to know the rooms still have
baths and, for the rest of us, all the
door locks have been upgraded!!